Flat plate ironer



July 26, 1955 J. HURLEY ETAL FLAT PLATE IRONER I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1953 July 26, 1955 J. HURLEY ET AL FLAT PLATE IRONER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1953 7 Z13" 20 .al

IN VEN TORS @r July 26, 1955 J. HURLEY ET AL 2,713,734

FLAT PLATE IRONER Filed Jan. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent FLAT PLATE IRONER Jason Hurley and Hans F. Trepte, Chicago, Ill.; said Trepte assiguor to said Hurley Application January 23, 1953, Serial No. 332,830 Claims. (Cl. 38-36) This invention relates to at plate ironers. The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved flat plate ironer which is simple in construction and in manner of operation, which is small in size, light in weight and readily portable, which may be placed on a conventional table for use, which may be operated froma sitf and their long legs diverging to form a supporting base.

A buck is immovably carried by the long legs of the supporting frame. The stationary buck may be made of a perforated plate and provided with the usual padding and covering. An arm including a pair of tubes secured together in spaced apart relation by cross members is pivoted at one end to the supporting frame adjacent the short legs thereof, the tubes of the arm straddling the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame. The free end of the pivoted arm extends above the buck. A spring normally raises the pivoted arm about its pivot. When the pivoted arm is lowered to ironing position it lines up with the short legs of the supporting frame.

A bracket is movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm. Means including a lost motion connection secures a heated shoe to the bracket and spring means included in the lost motion connection operate resiliently to separate the heated shoe and the bracket tothe extent allowed by the lost motion connection, The shoe may be cast from aluminum or the like and provided with thermostatically controlled electrical heating elements for heating the same to desired ironing temperatures. A sheet metal cover is preferably carried by the shoe for enclosing the heating elements, the thermostats, the bracket and the lost motion connection. The heated shoe is moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and is moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised.

Locking means is operatively connected between the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position. This includes a cam track carried by the en-ds of the short legs of the supporting frame and a cam follower carried by the pivoted arm between the tubes thereof. A shaft is carried by the free end of the pivoted arm and a handle carried thereby is provided for lowering the pivoted arm and rotating the shaft, the handle being movable between an upper position and a lower position. A cam carried by the shaft operates a rod carrying the cam follower for engaging the cam follower with the cam track to lock the pivoted arm in lowered position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position. Since the pivoted arm,

2,713,734 Patented July 26, 1955 r'ice cam, rod, cam follower, cam track, short leg of the supporting frame and pivot for the pivoted arm are all in substantial alignment when the pivoted arm is lowered, the pivoted arm is firmly locked in lowered position with minimum stresses being set up in the apparatus.

A pair of cam members are carried by the shoe supporting bracket underneath the shaft and a pair of actuators are carried by the shaft for engaging the cam members as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position to compress the spring means of the lost motion connection. The pivoted arm being locked in lowered position at this time, compressing the spring means applies pressure between the heated shoe and the buck for ironing purposes.

Latch means are provided for preventing movement of the handle out of its upper position unless the pivoted arm is in its lower position. This means may comprise a latch carried by the rod and cooperating withV the pivoted arm and the supporting frame. Thus, the same handle which operates the locking means and the' pressing means may also be used for raising and lowering the pivoted arm without danger of getting the various parts out of sequence `The pivoted arm, locking means, latch means, cam actuators and so forth may be enclosed by a suitable sheet metal cover carried by the pivoted arm.

Further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the hat plate ironer and in the cooperative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objectsv and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the at plate ironer of this invention with the cover for the pivoted arm removed;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view partially in section of the at plate ironer illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the flat plate ironer, and showing in dotted lines the raised position of the pivoted arm;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the heated shoe;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 7, 8, 9, and l0 are partial sectional views illustrating different positions taken by the flat plate ironer during use thereof.

The fiat plate ironer of this invention is generally designated at 10. It includes a supporting frame 11 formed from a pair of substantially U-shaped tubes, Each tube has a lower long leg 12, substantially semicircular portion 13 and an upper short leg 14. The two tubes are secured together as by welding and the lower long legs 12 thereof diverge to form a supporting base. The tubes 11 may be formed of any suitable material, such as steel or the like. The ends of the lower legs 12 of the tubes may be closed by plates 15 suitably welded in place and similarly thel ends of the upper legs 14 of the tube may be closed by a plate 16 suitably welded in place. Thus, the supporting frame while being extremely rugged in construction is light in weight.

The lower legs 12 of the supporting frame 11 carry a pair of transverse tubes 17, which in turn, carry a perforated plate 18 having a depending ange 19. The plate 18 is suitably secured to the tubes 17, and the tubes 17 are suitably secured to the lower legs 12 as by welding to form an immovable buck carried by the supporting frame. This buck may be provided with suitable'padding 20 and covering material 21 suitably held in place on the buck.

The flat plate ironer also includes a pivoted arm 24 which is formed from a pair of tubes 25. The tubes 25 are generally straight except that the rear ends thereof are curved downwardly as indicated at 26 so as to conform to the curvature of the supporting frame 11. The two tubes 25 are secured together in spaced apart relation by a pair of cross members 27 and 28, the cross members being suitably secured thereto as by welding. The two tubes 25 of the pivoted arm 24 straddle the short legs 14 of the supporting frame 11. The rear end of the pivoted arm 24 is pivoted to the supporting frame 11 adjacent the short upper legs 14 thereof by a transverse pivot pin 29 journaled in suitable bearings 30 carried by the tubes. The pivoted arm 24 is normally urged to an upper position as illustrated in dotted lines 'in Fig. 3 by means of a spring. The spring includes a portion 31 engaging under the pivoted arm 24, a portion 32 engaging the curved part 13 of the supporting frame and helical portions around the pivot pin 29.

The lat plate ironer also includes a shoe 36 which may be cast from aluminum or the like. The lower side of the shoe is smooth and performs the ironing function and the upper side includes a plurality of ribs 37 for strengthening the shoe and for accommodating electrcal heating elements 3S. Electric current is Supplied to the heating elements 38 through thermostatic controls 39 carried by the shoe 36 and responding to the temperature thereof. These thermostatic controls 39 are adjustable and may be adjusted by manipulating7 control knobs 40. in this way the shoe 36 may be electrically heated to desired temperature, and by manipulating control knobs 4G the temperature of the shoe may be varied for purposes of ironing different types of material.

The shoe 36 also carries a pair of studs 41 which extend upwardly therefrom and which are provided at the upper ends with heads 42. A bracket 43 has a pair of holes and cylindrical bosses for slidably receiving the studs 41. Upward movement of the bracket 43 with respect to the studs 41 is limited by the heads 42 of the studs. The bracket 43 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending ears 44 having slots 45 therein. Springs 46 encompass the studs 41 and extend between the heated shoe 36 and the bracket 43. Thus, the studs 41 provide a lost motion connection between the heated shoe 36 and the bracket 43, and the springs 46 resiliently separate the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection.

The heated shoe 36 also is provided with a plurality of lugs 47 for accommodating a cover 43 which is secured in place by screws 49 entering the lugs 47. The cover 48 may be made of sheet metal or the like, and operates to enclose the electric heating elements 33, the thermostatic controls 39 and the lost motion connection between the bracket 43 and the heated shoe 36. The -cover 48 is provided with openings for accommodating the control knobs and the bracket 43.

The free end of the pivoted arm 24 rotatably carries a transverse shaft 52 by means of suitable bearings in the forward ends of the tubes 25. This shaft 52 is con nected by arms 53 to a handle 54. The handle 54 is utilized for raising and lowering the pivoted arm 24 and for rotating the shaft 52, the handle 54 having an upper position and a lower position. The shaft 52 is also received in the slots of the ears 44 of the bracket 43 so that bracket 43 is movably carried by the shaft 52, and hence the free end of the pivoted arm 24. If desired, tension springs (not shown) may be located between the bracket 43 and the shaft 52 for resiliently maintaining the bracket 43 in an upper position with respect to the shaft 52. Because the heated shoe 36 is supported through the lost motion connection by the shaft 52, it may pivot about the shaft 52 so that when the heated shoe is lowered against the stationary buck Vit will automatically align itself with respect to the buck.

The shaft 5.2 carries a cam 55 in the form of a box cam having an actuating slot 56 terminating in a slot 57, which is concentric with the axis of the shaft 52. A roller 58 carried by a rod 59 engages in the slots 56 and 57 of the cam 55. The rod 59 extends through and is guided by suitable holes in the cross members 27 and 28. The rear end of the rod 59 rotatably carries a cam follower 60 having a beveled periphery as indicated more clearly in Fig. 6. This cam follower 60 is adapted to engage with a cam track 61 suitably secured to the plate 16 as by welding or the like. The cam track 61 has a V groove for receiving the cam follower 60. This cam track is provided with a low dwell so that when the cam follower 6G is held in the low dwell, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the pivoted arm 24 is locked in its lower position.

The bracket 43 carries a pair of cam members 65 underneath the shaft 52, these cam members 65 being provided with cam surfaces 66. The cam surfaces 66 are adapted to be engaged by rollers 67 carried by a pair of cam actuators 68 suitably secured to the shaft 52. Thus, as the shaft 52 is rotated from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, the rollers 67 operate on the cam surfaces 66 of the cam members 65 to move the bracket 43 downwardly for the purpose of compressing the springs 46. This downward movement of the bracket 43 is permitted by the slots 45 in the ears 44 of the bracket 43.

A latch member 71 is pivotally secured by a pivot pin 72 to the rod 59 and this latch member 71 is provided with a latch shoulder 73 for engaging the cross member 28 of the pivoted arm 24. When the shoulder 73 engages the cross member 28 as illustrated in Fig. 7 rearward movement of the rod 59 while the pivoted arm 24 is raised is prevented. When, however, the pivoted arm 24 is moved to its lower position as illustrated in Fig. 8, the rear end of the latch member 71 engages the cam track 61 for disengaging the shoulder 73 from the cross member 28 to allow rearward movement of the rod 59.

The pivoted arm 24 is preferably provided with a cover (not shown) for enclosing the same and the parts carried thereby. This cover may be secured to the pivoted arm in any suitable manner.

In the use of the flat plate ironer of this invention it may be placed on a conventional table and the handle 54 may be moved to the upper position as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 so that the pivoted arm is raised to its upper position also as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 7. The electrical heating elements 38 are then energized whereupon the heated shoe 36 is heated to the desired temperature as determined by the adjustment of the thermostatic controls 39. When the pivoted arm 24 is in the upper position, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the latch shoulder 73 engages the cross member 28 to prevent rearward movement of the rod 59, and hence to prevent forward rotation of the shaft 52 and the handle 54. In this way the handle 54 is maintained in its upper position. After the shoe 36 is heated to the desired temperature then the material to be ironed is placed upon the buck. The handle 54 is then grasped to pull the pivoted arm 24 from its upper position, as illustrated in Fig. 7, to its lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 8, where the heated shoe engages the material to be ironed on the buck. During this lowering of the pivoted arm 24 the shaft 52 and hence the handle are not rotated.

hen the pivoted arm 24 reaches its lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the latch member 71 engages the top of the cam track 61 to release the latch shoulder 73 from the cross member 28 thus freeing the rod 59. As the downward and forward pressure on the handle 54 is continued, the handle 54 moves forwardly and downwardly to rotate the shaft 52. As a result the cam 55 is rotated whereby the actuating slot 56 thereof forces the rod 59 rearwardly to cause the cam follower 60 to engage in the low dwell of the cam track 61, as illustrated in Fig. 9. As a result the pivoted arm 24 `is locked .in lits lower' position. Because the cam follower 60 is beveled and the cam track is in the form of a V-groove lateral displacement of the pivoted arm 24 while in locked position is minimized.

At the time that the pivoted arm 24 is locked in its lower position, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the rollers 67 of the cam actuators 68 engage the cam members 65. Continued downward movement of the handle 54 from its intermediate position to the lower position forces the bracket 43 downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 10. This compresses the springs 46 of the lost motion connection for applying spring pressure between the heated shoe and the buck. As is noted in Fig. l0, the cam actuators 68 move over center and the rollers 67 ride into small low dwells on the cam members 65 so that the cam actuators 68 are locked in this position. Thus, it is not necessary to hold the handle 54 in its lower position during the ironing operation.

After the heated shoe has been resiliently forced downwardly for ironing purposes for a desired interval of time then the handle 54 is moved from its lower position to its upper position, and during this sequence the parts take the positions illustrated in Figs. 10,' 9, 8 and 7 respectively. The spring pressure between the heated shoe and the buck is rst released as shown in Fig. 9 then the locking means is released as shown in Fig. 8, and then the pivoted arm 24 raises to its upper position as shown in Fig. 7. v

Thus, the single handle 54 in addition to locking the pivoted arm and applying spring pressure between the shoe and the buck also is utilized for raising and lowering the pivoted arm. In thisconnection the latch means prevents the handle 54 from being moved unless the pivoted arm is in its lower position. In this way the various parts are maintained in condition for proper sequencing. v

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed other forms may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure, and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heated shoe and the bracket and spring means for resiliently separating the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm above its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the locking means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the bracket for compressing the spring means of the lost motion connection as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position for applying pressure between the heated-shoe and the buck.

2. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm-pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending 6 above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heated shoe and the bracket and spring means for resiliently separating the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm above its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the locking means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the bracket for compressing the spring means of the lost motion connection as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck, and latch means for preventing movement of the handle out of its upper position unless the pivoted arm is in its lower position.

3. A ilat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the free end of the pivoted arm and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heated shoe and the free end of the pivoted arm and spring means for resiliently separating the heated shoe and the free end of the arm to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is llowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the locking means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the lost motion connection for compressing the spring means thereof as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck.

4. A ilat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the free end of the pivoted arm and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heated shoe and the free end of the pivoted arm and spring means for resiliently separating the heated shoe and the free end of the arm to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved` away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the locking means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the lost motion connection for compressing the spring means thereof as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck, and a latch means for preventing movement of the handle out of its upper position unless the pivoted arm is in its lower position.

5. A at plate ironer comprising a supporting frame including a pair of substantially U-shaped tubes, each having a long leg and a short leg, said short legs of said tubes being secured together side by side and said long legs thereof diverging to form a supporting base, a buck carried by the long legs of the U-shaped tubes, an arm including a pair of tubes and cross members for securing the latter tubes together in spaced apart relation, a pivot pin for pivoting one end of the arm to the supporting frame with its free end extending above the buck and with the spaced apart tubes of the arm straddling the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame, a heated shoe carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a spring normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised.

6. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame including a pair of substantially U-shaped tubes, each having a long leg and a short leg, said short legs of said tubes being secured together side by side and said long legs thereof diverging to form a supporting base, a buck carried by the long legs of the U-shaped tubes, an arm including a pair of tubes and cross members for securing the latter tubes together in spaced apart relation, a pivot pin for pivoting one end of the arm to the supporting frame with its free end extending above the buck and with the spaced apart tubes of the arm straddling the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame, a heated shoe carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a spring normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck and the tubes of the pivoted arm lying substantially parallel to the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame when the pivoted arm is lowered and the heated shoe being moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the ends of the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position.

7. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame including a pair of substantially U-shaped tubes, each having a long leg and a short leg, said short legs of said tubes being secured together side by side and said long legs thereof diverging to form a supporting base, a buck carried by the long legs of the U-shaped tubes, an arm including a pair of tubes and cross members for securing thc latter tubes together in spaced apart relation, a pivot pin for pivoting one end of the arm to the supporting frame with its free end extending above the buck and with the spaced apart tubes of the arm straddling the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame, a heated shoe carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a spring normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck and the tubes of the pivoted arm lying substantially parallel to the s'no1t legs of the tubes of the supporting frame when the pivoted arm is lowered and the heated shoe being moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the ends of the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, and cam means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position.

8. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame including a pair of substantially U-shaped tubes, each having a long leg and a short leg, said short legs of said tubes being secured together side by side and said long legs thereof diverging to form a supporting base, a buck carried by the long legs of the U-shaped tubes, an arm including a pair of tubes and cross members for securing the latter tubes together in spaced apart relation, a pivot pin for pivoting one end of the arm to the supporting frame with its free end extending above the buck and with the spaced apart tubes of the arm straddling the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame, a heated shoe carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a spring normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck and the tubes of the pivoted arm lying substantially parallel to the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame when the pivoted arm is lowered and the heated shoe being moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means including a cam track carried by the ends of the short legs of the tubes of the supporting frame and a cam follower carried by the pivoted arm between the spaced apart tubes of the pivoted arm, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, a cam carried by the shaft, and means operated by the cam for engaging the cam follower with the cam track to lock the pivoted arm in lowered position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position.

9. A at plate ironer comprising a substantially U- shaped frame having a lower long leg forming a supporting base and an upper short leg, a buck carried by the long leg of the supporting frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the supporting frame adjacent the short leg thereof and with its free end extending above the buck, a heated shoe carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a spring normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck and the pivoted arm being aligned with the short leg of the supporting frame whenr the pivoted arm is lowered and the heated shoe being moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means including a cam track carried by the end of the short leg of the supporting frame and a cam follower carried by the pivoted arm, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, a cam on the shaft, a rod extending between the cam and the cam follower for engaging the cam follower with the cam track to lock the pivoted arm in lowered position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position.

l0. A flat plate ironer comprising a substantially U- shaped frame having a lower long leg forming a supporting base and an upper short leg, a buck carried by the long leg of the supporting frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the supporting frame adjacent the short leg thereof and with its free end extending above the buck, a heated shoe carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a spring normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck and the pivoted arm being aligned with the short leg of the supporting frame when the pivoted arm is lowered and the. heated shoe being moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means including a cam track carried by the end of the short leg of the supporting frame and a cam follower carried by the pivoted arm, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, a cam on the shaft, a rod extending between the cam and the cam follower for engaging the cam follower with the cam track to lock the pivoted arm in lowered position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position, and a latch carried by the rod and cooperating with the pivoted arm and the supporting frame to prevent movement of the handle out of its upper position until the pivoted arm is moved to its lowered position.

1l. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heated shoe and the bracket and spring means for resiliently separating the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for rotating the same, a pair of cam members carried by the bracket, and a pair of actuators carried by the shaft for engaging the cam members as the shaft is rotated to compress the spring means of the lost motion connection for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck.

l2. A at plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting relative movement between the heated shoe and the bracket and spring means for resiliently separating the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck whenrthe pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaftl and movable between an upper position and a lower position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the locking means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, a pair of cam members carried by the bracket, and a pair of actuators carried by the shaft for engaging the cam members as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position to compress the spring means of the lost motion connection for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck.

13. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative move'- a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position including a cam track carried by the supporting frame and a cam follower carried by the pivoted arm, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, a cam carried by the shaft, and means operated by the cam for engaging the cam follower with the cam track to lock the pivoted arm in lowered position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, a pair of cam members carried by the bracket,-and a pair of actuators carried by the shaft for engaging the cam members as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position to compress the spring means of the lost motion connection for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck.

14. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heated shoe and the bracket and spring means for resiliently separating the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means operatively connected to the pivoted arm and the supporting frame for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, cam means operatively connected between the shaft and the locking means for operating the locking means to locking position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, a pair of cam members carried by the bracket, and a pair of actuators carried by the shaft for engaging the cam members as the handle is moved from its intermediate position to its lower position to compress the spring means of the lost motion connection for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck, and latch means for preventing movement of the handle out of its upper position unless the pivoted arm is in its lower position.

l5. A flat plate ironer comprising a supporting frame, a buck immovably carried by the frame, an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and having its free end extending above the buck, a bracket movably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a heated shoe, means securing the heated shoe to the bracket and including a lost motion connection for permitting limited relative movement between the heatedshoe and the bracket and spring means for resiliently separating the bracket and the heated shoe to the extent allowed by the lost motion connection, a spring for normally raising the pivoted arm about its pivot, the heated shoe being moved against the buck when the pivoted arm is lowered and moved away from the buck when the pivoted arm is raised, locking means for locking the pivoted arm in lowered position including a cam track carried by the supporting frame and a cam follower carried by the pivoted arm, a shaft rotatably carried by the free end of the pivoted arm, a handle carried 1 1 by the shaft for lowering the pivoted arm and for rotating the shaft and movable between an upper position and a lower position, a cam carried by the shaft, and means operated by the cam for engaging the cam follower with the cam track to lock the pivoted arm in lowered position when the pivoted arm is lowered and the handle is moved from its upper position to an intermediate position, a pair of cam members carried by the bracket, and a pair of actuators carried by the shaft for engaging the cam members as the handle is moved from its inter- 10 mediate position to its lower position to compress the spring means of the lost motion connection for applying pressure between the heated shoe and the buck, and latch means for preventing movement of the handle out of its upper position unless the pivoted arm s in its lower position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,179,115 Bush NOV. 7, 1939 

